Sub picture control apparatus and method for television receiver

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a sub picture control apparatus and method for a TV that can achieve an effective viewing of the sub picture. The apparatus includes a region data extracting section ( 52 ) for extracting region data included in a broadcasting signal tuned by a second tuner ( 43 ), a second luminance/chrominance (Y/C) separating section ( 45 ) for separating a chrominance signal and a luminance signal from the broadcasting signal selected by the second tuner ( 43 ), a region extracting section/scaler ( 46 ) for extracting a video signal of a region corresponding to a specified region information and performing a picture size adjustment with respect to the extracted video signal, and a control section ( 53 ) for controlling a region extracting section/scaler ( 46 ) to extract the video signal corresponding to a region information extracted from the region extracting section/scaler ( 46 ) and controlling a video processing section ( 48 ) to process an output signal of the region extracting section/scaler ( 46 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application claims priority of PCT/KR01/01406, filed Aug. 20, 2001,published on Feb. 28, 2002, Publication No. WO 02/17613 A2 in theEnglish language and which claimed priority to Korean Patent ApplicationNo. 2000/48335 filed Aug. 21, 2000.

BACKGROUND ART

A conventional television receiver (TV), as shown in FIG. 1, includes afirst tuner 12 and a second tuner 13 for respectively selectingspecified broadcasting signals for constructing a main picture and a subpicture among broadcasting signals received through an antenna 11, afirst luminance/chrominance (Y/C) separating section 14 and a secondluminance/chrominance (Y/C) separating section 15 for separating thebroadcasting signals selected by the first tuner 12 and the second tuner13 into chrominance signals and luminance signals, respectively, ascaler 16 for adjusting the size of picture with respect to an output ofthe first Y/C separating section 15, a color picture tube (CPT) 17, avideo processing section 18 for mixing and video-processing outputs ofthe first Y/C separating section 14 and the scaler 16 to display theprocessed video signal on the CPT 17, a speaker 19, an audio processingsection 20 for processing audio signals of the broadcasting signalsselected by the first tuner 12 and the second tuner 13 to output theprocessed audio signal through the speaker 19, a sync separating section21 for separating horizontal/vertical sync signals from the output ofthe first tuner 12, a control section 22 for controlling the scaler 16to adjust the position and size of the sub picture, controlling thevideo processing section 18 to video-process the main picture signalaccording to the horizontal/vertical sync signals separated by the syncseparating section 21, and controlling the audio processing section 20to process the audio signal, and an EEPROM 23 for storing an operationprogram of the control section 22 and various kinds of set data.

The sub picture control operation of the conventional TV as constructedabove will now be explained.

First, a user turns on the power of the TV, and selects one channel asthe main picture and another channel as the sub picture.

Accordingly, the control section 22 controls the first tuner 12 and thesecond tuner 13, so that the first tuner 12 selects the channelbroadcasting signal for the main picture, and the second tuner 13selects the channel broadcasting signal for the sub picture.

Then, the main picture broadcasting signal and the sub picturebroadcasting signal are separated into chrominance signals and luminancesignals through the first tuner 12 and first Y/C separating section 14,and the second tuner 13 and second Y/C separating section 15,respectively.

The output of the second Y/C separating section 15 is inputted to thescaler 16, and the picture size of the sub picture is adjusted throughthe scaler 16 under the control of the control section 22.

The output of the first Y/C separating section and the output of thescaler 16 are mixed together and video-processed in the video processingsection 18 under the control of the control section 22, and thendisplayed on a screen of the CPT 17.

Meanwhile, the audio signals of the broadcasting signals selectedthrough the first tuner 12 and the second tuner 13 are processed in theaudio processing section 20 under the control of the control section 22,and then outputted through the speaker 19.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 2, the whole sub picture according to theconventional technique is scaled to a predetermined size, and displayedon a corresponding position of the screen.

For example, if it is assumed that a character ‘A’ is the core elementof the whole picture, this picture is scaled as it is and displayed asthe sub picture, and the character ‘B’ is shown in the sub picture. Asshown in FIG. 2, the character ‘B’ is so small that its shape cannot bealmost recognized in the sub picture.

That is, according to the conventional TV, since the whole picture isscaled as it is and displayed as the sub picture, the core element ofthe sub picture cannot be accurately recognized, and the sub picturedesired by the user cannot be obtained, causing the user'sdissatisfaction.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the problemsinvolved in the prior art and to provide a sub picture control apparatusand method for a TV that can achieve an effective viewing of the subpicture by constructing and displaying the sub picture centering aroundthe core element of the whole sub picture.

In order to accomplish the above-mentioned object, the present inventionprovides a sub picture control apparatus for a TV comprising a tuner forselecting a specified broadcasting signal for constructing a sub pictureamong broadcasting signals received through an antenna, aluminance/chrominance (Y/C) separating section for separating achrominance signal and a luminance signal from the broadcasting signalselected by the tuner, a region extracting section/scaler for extractinga video signal of a region corresponding to a specified regioninformation from a video signal of the whole picture outputted from theY/C separating section, and performing a picture size scaling withrespect to the extracted video signal, a display section, a videoprocessing section for video-processing an output of the regionextracting section/scaler to enable the output of the region extractingsection/scaler to be displayed on the display section, a regioninformation extracting section for extracting the region informationincluded in the broadcasting signal selected through the tuner, and acontrol section for controlling the region extracting section/scaler toextract the video signal corresponding to the region informationextracted by the region information extracting section from the videosignal of the whole picture and to adjust a position and a size of thesub picture, and controlling the video processing section tovideo-process the output of the region extracting section/scaler.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a subpicture control method for a TV comprising the steps of a broadcastingstation transmitting a broadcasting signal including sub picture regioninformation, if a user selects a sub picture, selecting the broadcastingsignal of a corresponding channel, and extracting the sub picture regioninformation included in the broadcasting signal of the correspondingchannel using a region information extracting means, and extracting avideo signal corresponding to the sub picture region information fromthe broadcasting signal, processing the extracted video signal as thesub picture, and displaying the sub picture with a main picture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above object, other features and advantages of the present inventionwill become more apparent by describing the preferred embodiment thereofwith reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the construction of aconventional TV.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an example of a sub picture displayaccording to the conventional TV.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the construction of a sub picturecontrol apparatus for a TV according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the detailed construction of aregion extracting section/scaler according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a sub picture control method for a TVaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view explaining the process of inserting sub picture regioninformation according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an example of the construction of the subpicture region information according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating an example of a sub picture display for aTV according to the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Now, the sub picture control apparatus and method for a TV according toa preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described indetail with reference to the annexed drawings.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the construction of a sub picturecontrol apparatus for a TV according to the present invention, and FIG.4 is a block diagram illustrating the detailed construction of a regionextracting section/scaler according to the present invention. FIG. 5 isa flowchart illustrating a sub picture control method for a TV accordingto the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a view explaining the process ofinserting sub picture region information according to the presentinvention. FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an example of the constructionof the sub picture region information according to the presentinvention, and FIG. 8 is a view illustrating an example of a sub picturedisplay for a TV according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the sub picture control apparatus according to thepresent invention includes a first tuner 42 and a second tuner 43 forrespectively selecting specified broadcasting signals for constructing amain picture and a sub picture among broadcasting signals receivedthrough an antenna 41, a first luminance/chrominance (Y/C) separatingsection 44 and a second luminance/chrominance (Y/C) separating section45 for separating the broadcasting signals selected by the first tuner42 and the second tuner 43 into chrominance signals and luminancesignals, respectively, a region extracting section/scaler 46 forextracting a video signal of a region corresponding to a specifiedregion information from a video signal of the whole picture outputtedfrom the second Y/C separating section 45 and performing a picture sizescaling with respect to the extracted video signal, a display section47, a video processing section 48 for mixing and video-processingoutputs of the first Y/C separating section 44 and the region extractingsection/scaler 46 to display the processed video signal on the displaysection 47, a speaker 49, an audio processing section 50 for processingaudio signals of the broadcasting signals selected by the first tuner 42and the second tuner 43 to output the processed audio signal through thespeaker 49, a sync separating section 51 for separatinghorizontal/vertical sync signals from the output of the first tuner 42,a region information extracting section 52 for extracting the regioninformation included in the broadcasting signal selected through thesecond tuner 43, a control section 53 for controlling the regionextracting section/scaler 46 to extract the video signal correspondingto the region information extracted by the region information extractingsection 52 from the video signal of the whole picture and to scale aposition and a size of the sub picture, and controlling the videoprocessing section 48 and the audio processing section 50 to processvideo and audio signals of the main picture, and an EEPROM 54 forstoring an operation program of the control section 53 and various kindsof set data.

The region extracting section/scaler 46, as shown in FIG. 4, includes ananalog-to-digital (A/D) converter 46-1 for converting the output of thesecond Y/C separating section 45 into a digital signal, a capture memory46-2 for capturing an output corresponding to a predetermined regionamong an output of the A/D converter 46-1, a scaler 46-3 for performingthe picture size adjustment with respect to stored information of thecapture memory 46-2, a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter 46-4 forconverting an output of the scaler 46-3 into an analog signal andtransmitting the analog signal to the video processing section 48, and aprocessor 46-5 for controlling the capture memory 46-2 to capture theoutput of the A/D converter 46-2 and controlling the scaler 46-3 toperform the picture size scaling to a predetermined size.

The operation of the sub picture control apparatus according to thepresent invention as constructed above will be explained with referenceto FIGS. 5 to 8.

A broadcasting station transmits broadcasting signals that include subpicture region information (step S51).

In explaining the region information determining principle, for example,in case that the selected channel corresponds to sports broadcasting,scoreboard-oriented sub picture region information is determined so thatthe user can easily recognize the present score state of both teams. Incase of news broadcasting, caption or photograph-oriented sub pictureregion information is determined, while in case of commercialbroadcasting or shopping-related broadcasting, sub picture informationfocused on a product name, photograph of product, and manufacturer nameis determined.

The sub picture region information determined as above is transmitted asfollows.

In case of a digital TV, the picture unit is a group of picture (GOP)that is composed of a predetermined number of frames, for example, ‘I’,‘B’, and ‘P’ frames as shown in FIG. 6, and the frames in the same GOPhave almost no change of picture. Accordingly, the sub picture regioninformation to be transmitted is included in the ‘I’ frame among the GOPframes, and especially in an MPEG-2 reserved section of the ‘I’ frame.At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the sub picture region informationincludes an X coordinate of a region start point, Y coordinate of theregion start point, width of the region, height of the region, andrelated number of GOP.

Meanwhile, if the power of the TV is in an on state (step S52), thecontrol section 53 judges whether the user selects the sub picture (stepS53).

If it is judged that the user does not select the sub picture, thecontrol section 53 controls the first tuner 42 and the video processingsection 48, so that the broadcasting signal of a default channel or achannel selected by the user is video-processed, and displayed throughthe display section 47 (step S54).

Meanwhile, if it is judged that the user selects the sub picture, thecontrol section 53 controls the second tuner 42 to select thebroadcasting signal of the corresponding channel, and controls theregion information extracting section 52 to extract the regioninformation included in the broadcasting signal (step S55).

Then, the control section 53 controls the operation of the regionextracting section 46 to extract the video signal of the regioncorresponding to the region information extracted by the regioninformation extracting section 52, and controls the scaling operation sothat the size of picture is scaled to the predetermined picture size.

Accordingly, the region extracting section/scaler 46 extracts the videosignal of the corresponding region from the video signal outputted fromthe second Y/C separating section 45 and performs the picture sizescaling under the control of the control section 53 (step S56).

At this time, the detailed operation of the region informationextracting section 52 is as follows.

First, the A/D converter 46-1 converts the output of the second Y/Cseparating section 45 into a digital signal.

Then, the processor 46-5 stores the video signal of the regiondetermined by the control section 53 in the capture memory 46-2, andtransmits the video signal stored in the capture memory 46-2 to thescaler 46-3 to perform the specified picture size scaling.

Accordingly, the scaler 46-3 performs the picture size scaling withrespect to the video signal transmitted through the processor 46-5, andthe D/A converter 46-4 converts the output of the scaler 46-3 into ananalog video signal to output the analog video signal to the videoprocessing section 48.

The video signal of the corresponding region to which the picture sizescaling is performed is mixed with the main picture video signal throughthe video processing section 48 under the control of the control section53 to be video-processed, and then displayed through the display section47 (step S57).

As shown in FIG. 8, only a determined region A′ of the whole picture isfinally displayed as the sub picture B′ in contrast to the conventionaltechnique that adjusts the size of the whole picture as it is, and thusthe user can easily recognize the core character or element of thepicture.

The sub picture control apparatus and method for a TV according to thepresent invention as described above can also be applied to thefollowing cases.

In case of baseball game broadcasting, the region information is focusedon the scoreboard, and the sub picture constructed centering around thescoreboard is displayed, so that the user can easily recognize the scorestate.

In case of soccer game broadcasting, the region information is focusedon the ball, and the sub picture constructed centering around the ballis displayed, so that the user can enjoy watching the soccer game withmore amusement.

In case of news broadcasting, the region information is focused on thecaption, and in case of commercial broadcasting or shopping-relatedbroadcasting, the region information is focused on the product name orphotograph of product, so that the user can more readily understand thenews or advertisement.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As apparent from the above description, the sub picture controlapparatus and method for a TV according to the present invention havethe effects that the core region of the whole picture is extracted anddisplayed as the sub picture, and thus the user can easily andconveniently recognize the core element of the picture, enabling aneffective viewing of the sub picture.

1. A sub picture control apparatus for a television receiver,comprising: a sub picture tuner for selecting a broadcasting signal forconstructing a sub picture having a focus region of a whole picture, thewhole picture corresponding to a program of a broadcasting channelcarrying the selected broadcasting signal; a luminance/chrominance (Y/C)separating section for separating a chrominance signal and a luminancesignal from the selected broadcasting signal, to output a video signalof the whole picture according to the separated Y/C signal; a regioninformation extracting section for extracting region informationincluded in the selected broadcasting signal, the extracted regioninformation identifying the focus region of the whole picture; a regionextracting section/scaler for extracting a video signal of the focusregion from the video signal of the whole picture and for performing apicture size scaling with respect to the extracted video signal of thefocus region; and a control section for controlling the video signalextraction and the scaling by the region extracting section/scaleraccording to the extracted region information, by setting a displayposition and a display size of the sub picture.
 2. The apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, further comprising: a main picture tuner, connectedin parallel to the sub picture tuner, for selecting a broadcastingsignal for a main picture from among a plurality of broadcastingsignals.
 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising: amain picture Y/C separating section for separating a luminance (Y)signal and a chrominance (C) signal from the broadcasting signalselected by the main picture tuner.
 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim1, wherein the region extracting section/scaler comprises: ananalog-to-digital (A/D) converter for outputting digital image data byconverting the output of the Y/C separating section into a digitalsignal; a capture memory for capturing image data corresponding to thefocus region from among the digital image data output by the A/Dconverter; a scaler for performing the picture size scaling with respectto stored information of the capture memory; a digital-to-analog (D/A)converter for converting an output of the scaler into an analog signal;and a processor for controlling the capture memory to capture the outputof the A/D converter and for controlling the scaler to perform thepicture size scaling according to the display size set by the controlsection.
 5. A method of displaying pictures in a television receiver,the method comprising: receiving a first video signal representative ofa main picture and a second video signal representative of a subpicture, the second video signal including identification informationidentifying a focus region within the sub picture; extracting theidentification information from the second video signal; extractingfocus region image data from the second video signal according to theidentification information; and displaying the focus region image dataon a predetermined image portion of a display screen.
 6. The method ofclaim 5, wherein the extracting focus region image data from the secondvideo signal includes: converting the second video signal into digitalsub picture data; extracting focus region image data from the digitalsub picture data according to the identification information and storingthe focus region image data in a memory; scaling the stored image data;and converting the scaled focus region image data into analog imagedata.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the displaying the focus regionimage data includes: combining the focus region image data with the mainpicture; and displaying the combined image data on the display screen,so that the focus region image data is displayed on the predeterminedimage portion of the display screen.
 8. The method of claim 5, whereinthe identification information includes at least one of a horizontalcoordinate of a start point of the focus region, a vertical coordinateof the start point of the focus region, a width of the focus region, anda height of the focus region.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein theidentification information further includes a related group of pictures(GOP) number.
 10. The method of claim 5, wherein the identificationinformation is included in one of a plurality of frames within a groupof pictures (GOP).
 11. The method of claim 5, wherein the identificationinformation is included in an I frame within a group of pictures (GOP).12. The method of claim 11, wherein the identification information isincluded in an MPEG-2 reserved section of the I frame.
 13. The method ofclaim 5, wherein the second video signal is a broadcast video signal.14. The method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined image portion is apicture in picture (PIP) portion of the display screen.
 15. A digitaltelevision receiver comprising: a first tuner for receiving a firstvideo signal representative of a main picture; a second tuner forreceiving a second video signal representative of a sub picture, thesecond video signal including identification information identifying afocus region within the sub picture; a controller for analyzing theidentification information and for generating a corresponding controlsignal according to a predetermined image portion of a display screen;and an image extracting unit for extracting focus region image data fromthe second video signal according to the corresponding control signalgenerated by the controller to enable display of the focus region imagedata on the predetermined image portion of the display screen.
 16. Thedigital television receiver of claim 15, wherein the image extractingunit comprises: an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter for converting thesecond video signal into digital sub picture data; a processor forextracting focus region image data from the digital sub picture datastored in a capture memory according to the corresponding control signalgenerated by the controller; a scaler for scaling the focus region imagedata extracted by the processor; and a digital-to-analog (D/A) converterfor converting the scaled focus region image data into analog imagedata.
 17. The digital television receiver of claim 15, furthercomprising: a video processor for combining the focus region image datawith the main picture; and a display unit for displaying the combinedimage data.
 18. The digital television receiver of claim 15, wherein theidentification information includes at least one of a horizontalcoordinate of a start point of the focus region, a vertical coordinateof the start point of the focus region, a width of the focus region, anda height of the focus region.
 19. The digital television receiver ofclaim 15, wherein the identification information is included in an Iframe within a group of pictures (GOP).
 20. The digital televisionreceiver of claim 19, wherein the identification information is includedin an MPEG-2 reserved section of the I frame.
 21. The digital televisionreceiver of claim 15, wherein the predetermined image portion is apicture in picture (PIP) portion of the display screen.
 22. A subpicture control method for a television receiver, the method comprising:receiving, on a broadcasting channel, a broadcasting signal forconstructing a sub picture having a focus region of a whole picture, thewhole picture corresponding to a program of the broadcasting channel;extracting region information included in the selected broadcastingsignal, the extracted region information identifying the focus region ofthe whole picture; extracting a video signal of the focus region fromthe video signal of the whole picture and for performing a scaling withrespect to the extracted video signal of the focus region; andcontrolling the video signal extraction and the picture size scaling bythe region extracting section/scaler according to the extracted regioninformation, by setting a display position and a display size of the subpicture.
 23. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the regioninformation is included in one frame of a group of pictures (GOP) of atransport stream transmitted from a broadcasting station.
 24. The methodas claimed in claim 23, wherein the region information is constructed ofa field for each of at least a horizontal coordinate of a start point ofthe focus region, a vertical coordinate of the start point of the focusregion, a width of the focus region, a height of the focus region, and arelated GOP number.
 25. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein theregion information is included in an I frame of the group of pictures.26. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the region information isincluded in an MPEG-2 reserved section of the I frame.
 27. The method asclaimed in claim 22, wherein the region information includes informationindicative of program type.
 28. The method as claimed in claim 27,wherein the extracted region information is determined according to theprogram type.
 29. The method as claimed in claim 22, further comprising:receiving a broadcasting signal of a default channel; determiningwhether a sub picture function has been selected; and video-processingand displaying the default channel broadcasting signal as the wholepicture, if there has been no sub picture function selection.
 30. Themethod as claimed in claim 29, wherein the default channel is abroadcasting channel selected by a user.
 31. The method as claimed inclaim 22, wherein the received broadcasting signal is selected fromamong a plurality of broadcasting signals transmitted from at least onebroadcasting station.
 32. The method as claimed in claim 31, furthercomprising: selecting, from among the plurality of broadcasting signals,a broadcasting signal for a main picture; video-processing the selectedbroadcasting signals by combining the extracted video signal of theregion with the main picture broadcasting signal; and displaying thecombined image data on the display screen, so that the focus regionimage data is displayed on the predetermined image portion of thedisplay screen.
 33. The method as claimed in claim 32, furthercomprising: separating a luminance (Y) signal and a chrominance (C)signal from the main picture broadcasting signal, to output a videosignal of the main picture according to the separated Y/C signal.